The Terminator's Arch-Nemesis

There have been some great arch enemies throughout time: Voldemort, Cinderella's stepmother, the Joker. But none are so lethal, so pervasive, so arch as the Poopinator. And all you moms out there have one. Our kids have been poopinating since before they were born -- and it's high time the whole world gets a whiff of what's about to be unleashed upon them. After all, the only way to defend yourself is to know your enemy! Nina & Tom make that possible with their cheeky Poopinator onesie. All their wares are screenprinted by hand with water-based inks -- better for babies and environment alike! And the garments are made to last, so like the Terminator himself, the Poopinator will love on long after your little one has outgrown the onesie.

How Prosh!

If these teensy slippers were alive, there's no doubt that they would be featured on cuteoverload.com -- they are just that cute! The booties are made in Peru, out of cotton -- making them soft for those sensitive little tootsies. Paired with a little red polka-dot dress (I'm a sucker for the polka dots) and a little hat -- either the matching hat or another cute cloche. How perfect would these be for a summer garden party? Naturally, there would also be pink lemonade and a child's size hammock. The only downside?  You may be jumpstarting your little one's Sex-in-the-City sized shoe collection!

Goodnight Moon...

Nursery Works has some of the coolest baby furniture I've seen in a while -- though if you enjoy traditional styles, perhaps it's not the site for you. You'd be hard pressed to find a crib with hand-turned bars or a chintz rocker. But they do have this gorgeous glider, which has more than a dash of Eames-inspired design. I grew up with my mother rocking me in an actual rocking chair, but the trend seems to be towards gliders these days -- with that ultra-smooth motion I suppose I can see why! I'd love to see this chair in a blue, or even yellow nursery. Naturally, there would be an accompanying end table to hold much-loved copies of Goodnight Moon and Hop on Pop.

It's Friday, I'm in Love....

In high school, I was completely, but completely, smitten with Robert Smith. And pretty much all things Brit-pop. I even went through a phase in which I loved Erasure. Morrissey still holds a spot in my heart. So when I found this CD from Rockabye Baby, I almost wept with joy. (Okay, I didn't weep -- but I was very, very happy.) The quirky jangles of the guitar in the original Cure tunes may be slightly less than soothing -- but transform them into lullabies and I fail to see how you can go wrong. I've a picture in my mind of playing this for my child in utero, and then, come her high school years, the little one suddenly has a mysterious affinity for the Cure. If the nouveau-British invasion isn't your thing, Rockabye also offers similar CDs, featuring lullaby versions of Coldplay, Radiohead and, for the industrial fans out there, Tool.

Hybrids Aren't Just for Automobiles

These days, when you hear the word "hybrid" what springs to mind is the Prius, the Insight and yes, sometimes even Al Gore. The Pick-Up from designer Alfredo Häberli introduces your toddler to the hybrid concept, though in a slightly round-a-bout way. Instead of cutting greenhouse gases, your little one learns the importance of a multi-tasker, and of movement powered by something other than the norm. In no time at all, your little one will be pushing these chairs about the house: first as car, then as bookmobile (complete with a copy of The Inconvenient Truth, natch). The product description says the piece can be used to facilitate first steps, a la the walkers of old, but I'd be careful with that -- no one wants their baby's first steps to be face first!

Cozy Cocoon

As Betsey Carr, artist behind Foundling, says: is there really a cozier word than cocoon? Created from recycled and repurposed vintage materials, this charm necklace is comforting and warm -- indicative of the blossoming baby bump that the recipient shall have. (I've a friend who just announced her pregnancy -- and this is perfect for her.) The necklace is oxidized sterling silver, with a gorgeous blue aventurine bead to accompany the pendant, which is created using a page from a vintage dictionary and a coating of clear resin. Betsey wants the piece to remind the wearer that she is warm and safe -- but I think it doubles as an indication that the wearer is a place of warmth and safety, at least for the wee bundle cooking away inside.

Can't. Tear. Myself. Away.

I've been spending an obscene amount of time browsing net-a-porter.com lately. Do they offer even one thing that isn't positively gorgeous and crave-worthy? I think not. I'm always on the lookout for clothes that can double as maternity wear. Even though there are some really gorgeous maternity fashions on the market right now, I still lean towards non-maternity clothes -- especially now that there are so many gorgeous pieces like this one from Little Joe by Gail Elliott. The bow detail on the sleeves is twee without being too twee, and the crochet trim? Satisfies my nostalgia for all things smocked without having to actually fill my wardrobe with smocked items. In a fabric other than silk, I think this might not be quite dressy enough, but the familiar sheen and texture of the silk give it just enough for me to feel comfortable wearing it both to work and to dinner. But I don't think I'll be pairing it with skinny jeans any time soon (a la the picture on the site); no matter how trendy they are!

Not Exactly Steiff...

Even babies can be label-conscious, right? So satisfy that desire for the luxe and need for snuggly bears in one fell swoop: The Dior logo teddy bear. A Steiff it is not -- though that doesn't mean it won't become a classic in its own right (or in your home). With "fur" of the iconic Dior-logoed canvas (softened for baby) and shimmery embroidered flowers on his chest, this teddy may well be the next Velveteen Rabbit. The eyes, nose and mouth are also embroidered, this time with a soft blue -- to invite playful nuzzling, no doubt.

Fit for a Queen

And by "Queen" I mean "me." This necklace is stunning -- simple, dramatic, bold yet neutral. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I love bright colors: MAC pigments, robin's egg blue paint for the bedroom, fuschia peonies. In my jewelry though, I tend to prefer pieces that are neutral enough to work with everything I own, and I think lots of modern women are the same way. We just don't have time to always match our earrings to our cocktail ring to our necklace (though, it's still nice to do sometimes). So when I shop for jewelry, I seek out pieces like this one from Joia Style Studio. I love how the hammered gold warms up the smoky grey quartz. The facets on the gems play nicely with the texture of the hoops that surround them. It's chunky and delicate at the same time -- I could see wearing this with my Sevens and also with a linen suit to work. Surely that justifies the purchase, no?

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

The turquoise! The brown! That texture! This little number has scooted its way into my top five most coveted bags -- which is, of course, subject to change at any moment. The Teflon-coated canvas means I can slosh the Starbucks at will (don't laugh, it happens more than you'd think), and any kid-related spills (cracker crumbs, mashed banana, you know how it goes) come right off. It also has one of my favorite features: a thermal bottle holder. Milk, formula and juice stay at the right temperature, and your bag is saved from the threat of drippy bottles and condensation. A changing pad is also included -- which I love, because it means that the pad fits perfectly into the bag. Another great feature is that it's sturdy enough to stand upright when you place it on the floor. I've seen lots of diaper bags lately that have very little structure and are so flexible that they flop right over. They are beatiful bags, but it makes it difficult to fish for a bottle or wipe when the sides have folded in on themselves. This one seems to have it all, though.